FORT SMITH — The Lady Rebs were too much for the Russellville Lady Cyclones on Tuesday, as Fort Smith Southside claimed a 65-25 win in 7A/6A-Central Conference girls basketball.

Despite an abysmal non-conference record, RHS (3-13, 0-4) was only one game behind the Lady Rebs (13-5, 2-2) in conference play. A win here represented a chance to turn things around, but ultimately Southside was too much for the Lady Cyclones.

When the Lady Rebels hit their first field goal, Russellville already trailed 6-0. Kenzie Wiedower fired in a 3-pointer, but Southside was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free-throw line and led 10-3 at the 10:50 mark in the first quarter. The Lady Rebels scored again before Alyssa Owens sparked a 5-0 run with a turn-around jumper to bring Russellville within four. Wiedower tossed in her second 3 to bring the score to 12-8 at the end of the quarter.

The Lady Cyclones went cold in the second period. Southside netted eight unanswered points before Russellville finally answered. Owens scored hit a field goal at the 4:57 mark to make it 20-9. The Lady Rebels went on to extend their lead to 25-11, the additional Lady Cyclones basket coming from Jocelyn Brown.

Russellville’s 16 turnovers in the first half certainly didn’t help the Lady Cyclones keep the game close. Meanwhile, the Lady Rebels only shot one 3-pointer, with the rest of the scoring coming inside the paint and at the free-throw line.

Meredith Scott scored twice more before the end of the half, but by then Southside had widened its lead to 31-15.

The Lady Rebels hit their first 3-pointer of the game late in third quarter to widen their lead to 44-18. Xiomara Sanchez hit a reverse layup and Owens threw in a pair of free throws, but Southside had complete control of the game with a 57-22 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Wiedower led the Lady Cyclones with eight points, followed by Owens with seven and Scott with four. Russellville head coach Steve Wiedower has said over and over with a team as young as the Lady Cyclones, they are going to have to judge their victories in areas other than the final result on the scoreboard.

Rebuilding a team takes time and Wiedower and RHS has a long road ahead.